It’s the only time someone can be in jail one minute and own four railroad stations or a hotel on the Boardwalk the next.
For many people, it calls for long nights of sitting around the table, and occasionally can end in an argument, accusing one of the players, often the banker, of cheating.
Since it’s creation in 1935, Monopoly has entertained and enraged its participants, including current USC students and faculty, alike. The game’s enduring appeal is even marked by its own day: Nov. 19, National Play Monopoly Day.
Not much has changed about the essence of the iconic game since its creation, though thousands of different versions have proliferated. Christopher Swain, game design expert at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering, said the game was originally created by a woman to show the evils of capitalism.
What’s fascinating, he said, is that the game became a way to escape for people living through the Great Depression.
“Poor people had the opportunity to buy hotels and make decisions with money,” Swain said. “It became really popular.”
The different versions of the game in the world include ones based off of television shows, movies, celebrities, sports teams, food, animals and almost anything one could think of.
There are even versions of the game that have stirred controversy, including Monopoly Socialism, Monopoly for Millennials and Ms. Monopoly, in which women players earn more than men.
Daisy Kahn, a freshman studying psychology, likes Monopoly for its real-life money and investment aspect, however, does not believe any game should be gendered.
“I prefer the dog version,” Kahn said.
José Garcia, a freshman studying biomedical engineering, said his favorite version is Star Wars because he’s a big fan of the movies.
With the rise of video games with younger generations, Monopoly’s staying power is an important question. It remains to be seen if newer generations of players are engaging the same way that older players have.
“People love the game because they are familiar with it,” Swain said.
Swain said there are better money games out there like CASHFLOW, but there’s something about Monopoly he thinks will stick. It almost acts like an antique, he said.
He still remembers those rainy days playing Monopoly on his grandparent’s wooden board.
Amy Lynch, generations expert for Generational Edge, agrees Monopoly will continue to be played by younger generations. She said Gen Z takes the digital items they grew up with for granted.
“Gen Z values hands on activities as well as being close to their family,” Lynch said.
Meagan Johnson, another generational expert, said Monopoly allows the younger generations to experience the positive elements of nostalgia.
“It’s a good game to connect with the past, but still be able personalize it to specific generations,” Johnson said
She said the cashless Monopoly version was a representation of the world we live in.
New editions of the game continue to be made. The OP (USAopoly) announced the release of Breaking Bad Monopoly for 2020, based on the hit TV series.